US5115761A - Light curing apparatus for a continuous linear product - Google Patents

Light curing apparatus for a continuous linear product Download PDF

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Publication number
US5115761A
US5115761A US07/594,346 US59434690A US5115761A US 5115761 A US5115761 A US 5115761A US 59434690 A US59434690 A US 59434690A US 5115761 A US5115761 A US 5115761A
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United States
Prior art keywords
end cap
light
chamber member
chamber
curing apparatus
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Expired - Fee Related
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US07/594,346
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Randy Hood
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Lumen Dynamics Group Inc
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EFOS Inc
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Assigned to EFOS INC., A COMPANY OF THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO, CANADA reassignment EFOS INC., A COMPANY OF THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO, CANADA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: HOOD, RANDY
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C17/00—Surface treatment of glass, not in the form of fibres or filaments, by coating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05C9/00—Apparatus or plant for applying liquid or other fluent material to surfaces by means not covered by any preceding group, or in which the means of applying the liquid or other fluent material is not important
    • B05C9/08—Apparatus or plant for applying liquid or other fluent material to surfaces by means not covered by any preceding group, or in which the means of applying the liquid or other fluent material is not important for applying liquid or other fluent material and performing an auxiliary operation
    • B05C9/14—Apparatus or plant for applying liquid or other fluent material to surfaces by means not covered by any preceding group, or in which the means of applying the liquid or other fluent material is not important for applying liquid or other fluent material and performing an auxiliary operation the auxiliary operation involving heating or cooling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05D—PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05D3/00—Pretreatment of surfaces to which liquids or other fluent materials are to be applied; After-treatment of applied coatings, e.g. intermediate treating of an applied coating preparatory to subsequent applications of liquids or other fluent materials
    • B05D3/06—Pretreatment of surfaces to which liquids or other fluent materials are to be applied; After-treatment of applied coatings, e.g. intermediate treating of an applied coating preparatory to subsequent applications of liquids or other fluent materials by exposure to radiation
    • B05D3/061—Pretreatment of surfaces to which liquids or other fluent materials are to be applied; After-treatment of applied coatings, e.g. intermediate treating of an applied coating preparatory to subsequent applications of liquids or other fluent materials by exposure to radiation using U.V.
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C35/00—Heating, cooling or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C35/02—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould
    • B29C35/08—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation
    • B29C35/10—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation for articles of indefinite length
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C25/00—Surface treatment of fibres or filaments made from glass, minerals or slags
    • C03C25/10—Coating
    • C03C25/12—General methods of coating; Devices therefor
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B13/00—Machines and apparatus for drying fabrics, fibres, yarns, or other materials in long lengths, with progressive movement
    • F26B13/001—Drying and oxidising yarns, ribbons or the like
    • F26B13/002—Drying coated, e.g. enamelled, varnished, wires
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B3/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
    • F26B3/28—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by radiation, e.g. from the sun
    • F26B3/283—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by radiation, e.g. from the sun in combination with convection
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C35/00—Heating, cooling or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C35/02—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould
    • B29C35/08—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation
    • B29C35/0805—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation using electromagnetic radiation
    • B29C2035/0827—Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mould by wave energy or particle radiation using electromagnetic radiation using UV radiation
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S118/00—Coating apparatus
    • Y10S118/22—Wire and cord miscellaneous

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an apparatus suitable for the continuous light curing of an elongated string-like linear product.
  • Light curable resins are effective adhesive substances which can be cured with ultraviolet light in a relatively short instant. These resins contain light reactive photoinitiators which interact directly with the intense ultraviolet light energy to induce its polymerization. However, due to the continuousness of the string-like material it has been problematic to apply the resin onto the string-like material and to cure it with the ultraviolet light.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the light curing apparatus according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a section view thereof along line II--II in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a section view thereof along line III--III in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the parameters of the formula governing the positioning of the product within the curing chamber.
  • the preferred embodiment of the curing apparatus 10 includes a chamber 11 which is preferably cylindrical in shape having a light reflective inner surface 12.
  • the cylindrical chamber 11 may be conveniently made of metal with a polished inner side wall to provide the necessary reflective surface.
  • a tubular light guide holder 13 is mounted at the centre of the circumferential side wall 14 of the cylindrical chamber 11.
  • a light guide 15 may be inserted into the cylindrical chamber 11 through a cylindrical port 16 of the light guide holder 13.
  • the light guide 15 is a flexible tubular optical fibre device commonly referred to as a light wand which can be coupled to a light source (not shown) for conducting either an ultraviolet or visible light into the cylindrical chamber 11.
  • the light guide 15 may eb securedly mounted in place by a set screw 17 provided at the side of the light guide holder 13.
  • a set screw 17 provided at the side of the light guide holder 13.
  • One end of the cylindrical chamber 11 intended to be the entrance end is covered by a removable entrance end cap 18, and the other end intended to be the exit end is covered by a similar removable exit end cap 19.
  • Transverse slots 20 and 21 are respectively formed on the end caps 18 and 19. These slots 20 and 21 are formed in a diametrical, manner and preferably vertically across the centre of the end caps 18 and 19 respectively.
  • the continuous string-like product 22 such as a wire having light curable adhesive resin coated thereon is passed through the cylindrical chamber 11 from the slot 20 at the entrance end cap 18 to the slot 21 at the exit end cap 19.
  • Masking plates 23 and 24 are respectively mounted on the end caps 18 and 19 by two bolts 25 and 26 extending through the slots 27 and 28 formed in the masking plates 23 and 24, such that the masking plates 23 and 24 may be slidably adjusted to secure at any selected position between an uppermost position in which the bottom edge of the elongated slot abuts the lower bolt 26, and in a lowermost position in which the upper edge of the elongated slot abuts the upper bolt 25.
  • a shallow slot 29 is formed in the inner edge of the masking plates 23 and 24. The inner edge is located adjacent to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical chamber 11.
  • the shallow slot 29 is in registry with the elongated slots in the end caps, and it is located over the uppermost end portion of the elongated slots when the masking plates are positioned at the lowermost position and it is located over the lowermost end portion of the elongated slots when the masking plates are located at the uppermost position.
  • the shallow slot 29 in the masking plates 23 and 24 may thus be mounted in a selected position for guiding the string-like product 22 through the cylindrical chamber 11, so as to position the product 22 at a predetermined position relative to the tip 30 of the light guide 15 within the cylindrical chamber 11.
  • a curing gas inlet fitting 31 is provided at the entrance end cap 18 and an exhaust fitting 32 is provided at the exit end cap 19. Augmenting gas such as nitrogen may be admitted into the chamber 11 through the inlet fitting 31 and released from the chamber 11 through the exhaust fitting 32 for enhancing the light curing process of the product 22 within the cylindrical chamber 11.
  • the product 22 passes through the cylindrical chamber 11, it is exposed to the light conducted into the chamber through the light guide 15.
  • the light within the chamber 11 is reflected from the reflective inner surface 12 to concentrate on the product 22, thus exposing the product 22 to the optimum curing light intensity within the chamber 11 so as to produce the fastest possible cure of the curable resin coated thereon.
  • the distance of the target, i.e. the product 22 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the chamber 11 may be adjusted depending upon the size of the target i.e. the diameter of the wire.
  • the incursion of the tip 30 of the light guide 15 into the chamber 11 may likewise be adjusted according to the following formulas to provide the optimum curing rate:
  • D" is the distance between the axis of the chamber and the target
  • D' is the incursion of the tip of the light guide into the chamber 11;
  • m is the ratio between the target thickness (i.e. wire diameter) and the diameter of the light guide 15;
  • D is the inner diameter of the chamber 11.
  • the length and diameter of the chamber are depending upon the particular application. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additional light guide holders my be provided over the circumference of the chamber 11 in order that additional light guides may be adapted to conduct more ultraviolet light energy into the chamber 11 so as to enhance the speed of curing of the target 22. These additional light guides may be provided at various selected positions over the circumstances of the chamber 11. In this manner, the apparatus according to the present invention may be used for linear products of various thicknesses and it also provides greater flexibility to locate the product 22 at a wider choice of positions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber 11 to be exposed to the maximum irradiances. Furthermore, finite length of target or thick target having a thickness even larger than the diameter of the light guides may be cured directly within the chamber 11. Morever, several such chambers may be placed in tandem for providing repeated curing of the target and/or to provide curing of selected hemisphere of the target in each chamber.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Heating, Cooling, Or Curing Plastics Or The Like In General (AREA)
  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus for light curing of an adhesive resin coating on a continuous string-like linear product is shown. It consists of an elongated chamber having a light reflective inner side wall and removable end caps. The product coated with the adhesive resin is passed through the chamber through transverse slots formed in the end caps. The ultraviolet curing light is injected into the chamber by a light guide inserted through the peripheral side wall. Nitrogen gas may be also passed through the chamber to enhance the curing process of the resin.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus suitable for the continuous light curing of an elongated string-like linear product.
In the process of applying a coating substance such as adhesive onto a continuous linear string-like product such as a thread or wire, it has been necessary to utilize a rather complex curing process. After the adhesive substance has been applied onto the string-like material, the sticky adhesive substance must be cured in a elongated heat chamber in order to effect the bonding between the two materials. The process is relatively time consuming and messy to carry out and it poses a considerable loss in the valuable production time. Furthermore, in some instances the heat curing process may even, in some instances, cause some inherent damage to the string-like material.
Light curable resins are effective adhesive substances which can be cured with ultraviolet light in a relatively short instant. These resins contain light reactive photoinitiators which interact directly with the intense ultraviolet light energy to induce its polymerization. However, due to the continuousness of the string-like material it has been problematic to apply the resin onto the string-like material and to cure it with the ultraviolet light.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which is operative for curing efficiently a string-like material having a light curable resin substance coated thereon.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a light curing apparatus which is simple in structure.
These and other objectives and advantages attained by the invention will become more fully apparent when read in view of the following drawings and accompanying description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the light curing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a section view thereof along line II--II in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a section view thereof along line III--III in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the parameters of the formula governing the positioning of the product within the curing chamber.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference to the drawings wherein same component parts shown in the various views are indicated by the same reference numerals. The preferred embodiment of the curing apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes a chamber 11 which is preferably cylindrical in shape having a light reflective inner surface 12. The cylindrical chamber 11 may be conveniently made of metal with a polished inner side wall to provide the necessary reflective surface. A tubular light guide holder 13 is mounted at the centre of the circumferential side wall 14 of the cylindrical chamber 11. A light guide 15 may be inserted into the cylindrical chamber 11 through a cylindrical port 16 of the light guide holder 13. The light guide 15 is a flexible tubular optical fibre device commonly referred to as a light wand which can be coupled to a light source (not shown) for conducting either an ultraviolet or visible light into the cylindrical chamber 11. The light guide 15 may eb securedly mounted in place by a set screw 17 provided at the side of the light guide holder 13. One end of the cylindrical chamber 11 intended to be the entrance end is covered by a removable entrance end cap 18, and the other end intended to be the exit end is covered by a similar removable exit end cap 19. Transverse slots 20 and 21 are respectively formed on the end caps 18 and 19. These slots 20 and 21 are formed in a diametrical, manner and preferably vertically across the centre of the end caps 18 and 19 respectively.
The continuous string-like product 22 such as a wire having light curable adhesive resin coated thereon is passed through the cylindrical chamber 11 from the slot 20 at the entrance end cap 18 to the slot 21 at the exit end cap 19.
Masking plates 23 and 24 are respectively mounted on the end caps 18 and 19 by two bolts 25 and 26 extending through the slots 27 and 28 formed in the masking plates 23 and 24, such that the masking plates 23 and 24 may be slidably adjusted to secure at any selected position between an uppermost position in which the bottom edge of the elongated slot abuts the lower bolt 26, and in a lowermost position in which the upper edge of the elongated slot abuts the upper bolt 25. A shallow slot 29 is formed in the inner edge of the masking plates 23 and 24. The inner edge is located adjacent to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical chamber 11. The shallow slot 29 is in registry with the elongated slots in the end caps, and it is located over the uppermost end portion of the elongated slots when the masking plates are positioned at the lowermost position and it is located over the lowermost end portion of the elongated slots when the masking plates are located at the uppermost position. The shallow slot 29 in the masking plates 23 and 24 may thus be mounted in a selected position for guiding the string-like product 22 through the cylindrical chamber 11, so as to position the product 22 at a predetermined position relative to the tip 30 of the light guide 15 within the cylindrical chamber 11. A curing gas inlet fitting 31 is provided at the entrance end cap 18 and an exhaust fitting 32 is provided at the exit end cap 19. Augmenting gas such as nitrogen may be admitted into the chamber 11 through the inlet fitting 31 and released from the chamber 11 through the exhaust fitting 32 for enhancing the light curing process of the product 22 within the cylindrical chamber 11.
As the product 22 passes through the cylindrical chamber 11, it is exposed to the light conducted into the chamber through the light guide 15. The light within the chamber 11 is reflected from the reflective inner surface 12 to concentrate on the product 22, thus exposing the product 22 to the optimum curing light intensity within the chamber 11 so as to produce the fastest possible cure of the curable resin coated thereon.
The distance of the target, i.e. the product 22 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the chamber 11 may be adjusted depending upon the size of the target i.e. the diameter of the wire. The incursion of the tip 30 of the light guide 15 into the chamber 11 may likewise be adjusted according to the following formulas to provide the optimum curing rate:
D"=[(1-m)/4]×D
D'=[(3×m-1)/(4×m)]×D
in which
D" is the distance between the axis of the chamber and the target,
D' is the incursion of the tip of the light guide into the chamber 11;
m is the ratio between the target thickness (i.e. wire diameter) and the diameter of the light guide 15;
D is the inner diameter of the chamber 11.
The length and diameter of the chamber are depending upon the particular application. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additional light guide holders my be provided over the circumference of the chamber 11 in order that additional light guides may be adapted to conduct more ultraviolet light energy into the chamber 11 so as to enhance the speed of curing of the target 22. These additional light guides may be provided at various selected positions over the circumstances of the chamber 11. In this manner, the apparatus according to the present invention may be used for linear products of various thicknesses and it also provides greater flexibility to locate the product 22 at a wider choice of positions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber 11 to be exposed to the maximum irradiances. Furthermore, finite length of target or thick target having a thickness even larger than the diameter of the light guides may be cured directly within the chamber 11. Morever, several such chambers may be placed in tandem for providing repeated curing of the target and/or to provide curing of selected hemisphere of the target in each chamber.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

I claim:
1. A light curing apparatus for a linear product, comprising
an elongated chamber member having two open ends and a cylindrical inner chamber, said inner chamber having a light reflective side wall,
a light guide holder means disposed at a selected location on said side wall, said holder means having a circular port operative to receive a light guide to be inserted therethrough to extend into said chamber member,
end cap means secured to said open ends, each of said end cap means having a transverse slot formed in a diametrical manner therein,
masking plate means slidably mounted on each of said end cap means and having a shallow slot formed therein, said shallow slot being in registry with said transverse slot formed in said end cap means.
2. A light curing apparatus according to claim 1 including a gas inlet fitting means provided in one end cap means and a gas exhaust fitting means provided in the other end cap means, said gas inlet fitting means being operative to admit a selected gas into said chamber member and said gas exhaust fitting means being operative to release said gas from said chamber member.
3. A light curing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said chamber member is cylindrical in shape.
4. A light curing apparatus according to claim 3 including at least one additional light guide holder means disposed at another selected location of said circumferential side wall and operative to receive at least an additional light guide to be mounted therein for conducting ultraviolet light energy into said chamber member.
5. A light curing apparatus suitable for curing an elongated linear product having a light curing resin applied thereon, comprising
an elongated cylindrical chamber member having two open ends and a cylindrical circumferential side wall having a light reflective inner surface,
a tubular light guide holder means disposed at a centre location of said circumferential side wall, said holder means having a circular port operative to receive an end portion of an ultraviolet light guide means to be inserted therethrough into said chamber member,
a securing means provided at said holder means and operative for securing said end portion of said light guide means in said holder means,
an entrance end cap means removably secured to one open end of said chamber member,
an exit end cap means removably secured to the other open end of said chamber member,
a first transverse slot formed diametrically in said entrance end cap means,
a second transverse slot formed diametrically in said exit end cap means,
a first masking plate means mounted on said entrance end cap means, and a first guiding slot opening formed in said first masking plate means, said slot opening being in registry with said first transverse slot in said entrance end cap means, said first masking plate means being slidably adjustable relative to said entrance end cap means to position said opening over a selected area of said first transverse slot,
a second masking plate means mounted on said exit end cap means, and a second guiding slot opening formed in said second masking plate means, said second guiding slot opening being in registry with said second transverse slot in said exit end cap means, said second masking plate means being slidably adjustable relative to said exit end cap means, to position said opening over a selected area of said second transverse slot.
6. A light curing apparatus according to claim 5 including a gas inlet fitting means disposed at said entrance end cap means and operative for admitting a cure enhancing gas into said chamber member, and a gas exhaust fitting means disposed at said exit end cap means and operative for releasing said gas from said chamber member.
7. A light curing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said chamber is made of metal and has a polished cylindrical inner side wall.
8. A light curing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said gas is nitrogen.
9. A light curing apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said first guiding slot opening and said second guiding slot opening are formed at a side edge of said first masking plate means and second masking plate means respectively.
US07/594,346 1990-10-09 1990-10-09 Light curing apparatus for a continuous linear product Expired - Fee Related US5115761A (en)

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Cited By (59)

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US5595620A (en) * 1993-03-31 1997-01-21 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Apparatus and method for manufacturing polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display device
US6200134B1 (en) 1998-01-20 2001-03-13 Kerr Corporation Apparatus and method for curing materials with radiation
US6331111B1 (en) 1999-09-24 2001-12-18 Cao Group, Inc. Curing light system useful for curing light activated composite materials
US20020163317A1 (en) * 1999-09-24 2002-11-07 Densen Cao Curing light
US20020167283A1 (en) * 1999-09-24 2002-11-14 Densen Cao Curing light
US20020168603A1 (en) * 1999-09-24 2002-11-14 Cao Group, Inc. Dental curing light
US20020177096A1 (en) * 1999-09-24 2002-11-28 Densen Cao Method for curing light-curable materials
US20020182561A1 (en) * 1999-09-24 2002-12-05 Densen Cao Curing light
US6562176B2 (en) * 1999-07-08 2003-05-13 International Business Machines Corporation Concentrated UV light curing of adhesive for pivot applications
US20030142413A1 (en) * 2002-01-11 2003-07-31 Ultradent Products, Inc. Cone-shaped lens having increased forward light intensity and kits incorporating such lenses
US20030148242A1 (en) * 2002-02-05 2003-08-07 Fischer Dan E. Lightweight hand held dental curing device
US20030215766A1 (en) * 2002-01-11 2003-11-20 Ultradent Products, Inc. Light emitting systems and kits that include a light emitting device and one or more removable lenses
US6655433B1 (en) * 1999-11-30 2003-12-02 Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Corporation Optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus
US20040026023A1 (en) * 2002-08-07 2004-02-12 The Penn State Research Foundation System and method for bonding and debonding a workpiece to a manufacturing fixture
US6702576B2 (en) 2002-02-22 2004-03-09 Ultradent Products, Inc. Light-curing device with detachably interconnecting light applicator
US6719559B2 (en) 1999-09-24 2004-04-13 Densen Cao Curing light
US6719558B2 (en) 1999-09-24 2004-04-13 Densen Cao Curing light
US20040101802A1 (en) * 2002-11-21 2004-05-27 Scott Robert R. Wide bandwidth led curing light
US20040121280A1 (en) * 2002-12-18 2004-06-24 Fischer Dan E. Light curing device with detachable power supply
US6780010B2 (en) 1999-09-24 2004-08-24 Cao Group, Inc. Curing light
US6783362B2 (en) 1999-09-24 2004-08-31 Cao Group, Inc. Dental curing light using primary and secondary heat sink combination
US20040214131A1 (en) * 2003-04-25 2004-10-28 Ultradent Products, Inc., Spot curing lens used to spot cure a dental appliance adhesive and systems and methods employing such lenses
US20050042570A1 (en) * 2003-08-20 2005-02-24 Fischer Dan E. Dental curing light adapted to emit light at a desired angle
US6890175B2 (en) 2002-12-18 2005-05-10 Ultradent Products, Inc. Cooling system for hand-held curing light
US6910886B2 (en) 1999-09-24 2005-06-28 Cao Group, Inc. Curing light
US20050142514A1 (en) * 2003-12-30 2005-06-30 Scott Robert R. Dental curing device having a heat sink for dissipating heat
US6926524B2 (en) 1999-09-24 2005-08-09 Cao Group, Inc. Curing light
US6929472B2 (en) 1999-09-24 2005-08-16 Cao Group, Inc. Curing light
US20050221250A1 (en) * 2004-03-30 2005-10-06 John Kanca Ball lens for use with a dental curing light
US20050231983A1 (en) * 2002-08-23 2005-10-20 Dahm Jonathan S Method and apparatus for using light emitting diodes
US6979193B2 (en) 1999-09-24 2005-12-27 Cao Group, Inc. Curing light
US6981867B2 (en) 1999-09-24 2006-01-03 Cao Group, Inc. Curing light
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